Link-button.



R UN mm T Mn. 03 K m BATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19,1902.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE W. MOREHOUSE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO BARTON A.BALLOU AND FREDERICK A. BALLOU, COPARTNERS TRAD- ING AS B. A. BALLOU &COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

LINK-BUTTON.

iiPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,529, dated March10, 1903.

Serial No. 124,045. (No model.)

To aZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE W. MORE- HOUSE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State ofRhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Link-Buttons, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the ac companying drawings. V

Like letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved link-button. Fig. 2 is atop plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank from which thelink is formed. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the bent link before it isconnected with the button-heads. Fig. 5 shows in elevation my improvedlink-buttonin the position which it assumes in entering and passingthrough the buttonhole of a cuff.

My invention relates to the classof linkbuttons used to connect andfasten the outer corners of the cufi; and it consists of a jewelersfinding for such link-buttons constituting the link portion thereof andalso of a novel combination therewith ofthe eyes of the button-heads,whereby said buttons are confined to a single plane of oscillation,respectively,as hereinafter more fully specified.

In the drawings, A B are the buttons, ofv any suitable size andshape andornamented as may be desired; Each button A or Bhas at its center, onthe back, an eye C, fastened in position, preferably made of bent flator struck stock and having its aperture extending in the line of themajor axis of the button, if the button is elliptical or oblong inshape, as shown in Fig. 1, or in a diametrical or central transverseline if the button is otherwise shaped. The eye C, made as aforesaid, issubstantially rectangular in cross-section.

The link which unites the buttons A B by engaging with the eye 0thereofis made from.

b c are preferably square and plane and separated from each other adistance slightly in excess of the width of the button-eye C, so as toenable the ready insertion of the buttoneye C between said open orspread ends b c. The space inclosed within the spread and curvature ofthe prongs b c is approximately heart-shaped, as illustrated in Fig. 3.The bar (shownin Fig. 3) is then bent and curved by any suitable means,as seen in Fig. 4, and then constitutes the link D of the button.

The prongs b c of the link D on one end thereof are inserted and butted(by means of pliers or other suitable tool) within the eye 0 of thebutton A, and the prongs b c of the link D at the opposite end thereofare inserted and butted in like manner within the eye C of the button B,as best shown in Fig. 1. By this engagement of the link D with thebuttons A and B said buttons are capable of a limited oscillatingmovement upon the bent ends of the link D, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Itis there seen that the button A is turned so as to extend parallel withthe link D, and in this position it canbe easily inserted and. pushedthrough the buttonhole d of the cufi E. In like manner the button B canbe inserted and pushed through the opposite buttonhole of the cuff. v

The stock from which the bar a is formed is of sufficient thickness tomake the prongs b c stifi enough to maintain their position when buttedat their ends, as above described, and shown in Fig. 1, and so it is notnecessary to unite said ends with solder, and the eyes C are of suchwidth that the line of junction of said butted ends of the prongs withinthem is wholly concealed.

By making the aperture between thebent prongs b c, as shown in Fig. 1,substantially triangular in shape the button-eye C being of aconsiderable width is incapableof any other movement on said prongs andlink than alimited oscillating movement ,in a direction at right angleswith said bent ends of the prongs b 0. Consequently when the button A isin the entering position (shown in Fig. 5) it is very favorably locatedwith respect to the link D to receive a straight strong thrust to passthrough the buttonhole (1, whereas if (as is frequently the case in theuse of other linkbuttons having a loose connection with the link) thebutton were capable of a slight rotary movement on its link in differentplanes it is difficult to force such a button into and through thebuttonhole of the cufi, especially when, as usual, such cufi is stiffand well laundered and the buttonhole small or rendered comparativelyrigid by starching.

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by LettersPatent The improved link-button herein described, consisting of twobutton-heads, each having a button eye or loop of flat stock, incombination with a curved link-bar having at each end two square prongsbent in divergent angles and each terminatingin an inwardly-directedcurve, which prongs project through and are butted within the eye orloop of the adjacent button-head, said parts being so constructed andcombined that each button-head is capa- EUGENE W. MOREHOUSE.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH R. BULLOCK, J12, HOWARD A. LAMPSLY.

